Electronic Warfare Live Training Exercise a Lechfeld.

From 3 to 17 July 2008 in the southern Germany it has been held a major command exercises organized by the Cologne-Wahn German Air Force command in order to train pilots of the participating nations to operate in heavily defended areas, saturated with threat. Like every year the Luftwaffe organized an amazing SpotterDay which allow the spotters to stay at just 30m from the main Runway seeing the flying activity.
F-16CJ 070
Germany has deployed at Lechfeld  air base some Tornado from the JBG32 and the AK51 and a wonderful Atlantic SIGINT Br1150 of MFG3 of Nordholz, at Neuburg JG74’s Typhoon and some JBG31 Tornados from Nörvenich, instead  departing  from Landsberg there were LTG61’s C-160 and UH-1. Finally in Laupheim were deployed some Bo-105, NH-90, CH-53G/GS and Sea King Mk41. In the 2008 the foreign participants deployed to Lechfeld included 6 Italians Tornado from the 50th Wing of Piacenza, two SU-22M4 'Fitter-K' and a SU-22UM3K 'Fitter-G' from the polish 8th elt of Miroslawiec, 3 spanish EF -18M of the 15th Wing of Zaragoza, the Greeks  comes with 3 F-16CJ and a F-16DJ of 341st Mira. Finally, Turkey sent 3 F-4E 2020 Terminator of 111st Filo of Eskisehir and 3 F-16CG the 181st Filo of Diyarbakir. In addition to these, at the Landsberg base were also present French C-160 and C-130 and Polish CN-295, while Laupheim had hosted the A-109 Belgians. Finally the United States also participated with some Spangdahlem’s F-16CJ operating from their own base. Airspace affected by this massive exercise was controlled by a NATO E-3A operating from Geilenkirchen.
The Elite was created in 1991 under the “ROTOR” name in order to train the staff of Lechfeld JBG32 with their Tornado and the SAM Group 43 with the Roland missile systems to electronic warfare. Only a year after, the exercise was expanded to include the Tornados (JBG34) of the near Memmingen. At that time the training was held in Hohenfels. The interest for this exercise increased significantly in the German air force making necessary to introduce a specific command for this task under the Army Tactical Command South German. The first test was implemented in 1995 when it carried out the first real ELITE. Were also invited all NATO nations and some others. Over the years they have held nations such as Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, Romania, Britain and many others. Following the restructuring of the Luftwaffe, the control passed to the Cologne-Wahn German Air Force command. The structure, scenarios and length of the exercise were gradually changed, adapting to real situations, balancing the capabilities of earth forces and air. In order to optimize the activities the training area was moved to Heuberg.
Tornado IDS mm7027
F-16CG 93-0013

In 2008, the staff involved was 1700 units, although significant value, that represents a drop from the participation seen in 2004, when the staff was of 3,000 units.It was also informed that the following Elites will be done every two years. This is because the Luftwaffe was engaged in many other challenging exercises, such as the American Red Flag, the Canadian Maple Flag,as well as the Afghan theather. The frequency  has also changed to be able to expand the data time analysis for optimal planning for the next edition.

Text and Photos by Marco Sommacal

GAF Br1150 61+06 GAF Br1150 61+06 GAF Br1150 61+06 GAF Br1150 61+06 GAF Br1150 61+06
GAF Br1150 61+06 GAF Br1150 61+06 GAF Br1150 61+06 GAF Br1150 61+06 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285
TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022
TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 GAF Tornado 46+49
GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+36
GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+36
GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49
GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49
GAF Tornado 45+38 GAF Tornado 45+38 GAF Tornado 45+38 GAF Tornado 45+38 GAF Tornado 46+20
GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 44+64 GAF Tornado 44+64
GAF Tornado 44+64 GAF Tornado 44+64 GAF Tornado 46+26 GAF Tornado 46+26 GAF Tornado 46+26
GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 43+37
GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 43+37
GAF Tornado 45+38 GAF Tornado 45+38 GAF Tornado 45+38 HAF F-16C 060 HAF F-16C 060
HAF F-16C 060 HAF F-16C 060 HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 084
HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 070
HAF F-16C 070 HAF F-16C 070 HAF F-16C 070 HAF F-16C 070 HAF F-16C 070
AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26
AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26
AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 PLF SU-22MR 508
PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508
PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103
GAF Tornado 46+35 GAF Tornado 46+35 GAF Tornado 46+35 GAF Tornado 45+35 GAF Tornado 45+35
PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103
PLF SU-22M 8103 PLF SU-22M 8103 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285
TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022
TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285
TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285
TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 77-0285 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022
TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022
TuAF F-4E 2020 73-1022 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011
TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013
GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20
GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20
GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF Tornado 46+20 GAF UH-1 71+32 GAF UH-1 71+32 GAF UH-1 71+32
AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47
AMI Tornado 50-04 AMI Tornado 50-04 AMI Tornado 50-04 AMI Tornado 50-04 AMI Tornado 50-04
AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54
AMI Tornado mm7027 AMI Tornado mm7027 AMI Tornado mm7027 AMI Tornado mm7027 AMI Tornado mm7027
AMI Tornado mm7027 AMI Tornado mm7027 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26
AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34
AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508
PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 GAF Tornado 46+48
GAF Tornado 46+48 GAF Tornado 46+48 GAF Tornado 46+48 GAF Tornado 46+48 GAF Tornado 46+24
GAF Tornado 46+24 GAF Tornado 46+24 GAF Tornado 46+24 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26
AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26 AME EF-18M 15-26
AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34 AME EF-18M 15-34
AME EF-18M 15-34 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508
PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 PLF SU-22MR 508 GAF Tornado 46+49 GAF Tornado 46+49
GAF Tornado 46+49 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054
HAF F-16C 070 HAF F-16C 070 HAF F-16C 060 HAF F-16C 060 HAF F-16C 084
HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054
HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 054 HAF F-16C 070 HAF F-16C 070 HAF F-16C 070
HAF F-16C 070 GAF Tornado 46+48 GAF Tornado 46+48 GAF Tornado 46+24 GAF Tornado 46+24
HAF F-16C 060 HAF F-16C 060 GAF Tornado 45+30 GAF Tornado 46+30 GAF Tornado 46+30
HAF F-16C 060 HAF F-16C 060 HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 084
HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 084 HAF F-16C 084 GAF Tornado 43+37
GAF Tornado 43+37< GAF Tornado 43+37 GAF Tornado 45+38 GAF Tornado 45+38 GAF Tornado 45+38
GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+36 GAF Tornado 46+36 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011
TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013
TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011
TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0011 TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013
TuAF F-16C 93-0013 TuAF F-16C 93-0013 AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47
AMI Tornado 50-04 AMI Tornado 50-04 AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47
AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-47 AMI Tornado 50-04 AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54
AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54
AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54 AMI Tornado 50-54 GAF Tornado 46+26 GAF Tornado 46+26
GAF Tornado 46+48 GAF Tornado 46+48 GAF Tornado 45+48 GAF Tornado 45+48 GAF Tornado 45+48
GAF Tornado 45+48 GAF Tornado 45+24 GAF Tornado 45+24 GAF Tornado 45+24 GAF Tornado 46+30
GAF Tornado 46+30 GAF Pompieri      
Aircraft Type Serial Tail Number Group Wing Base Note
Tornado IDS(T) 43+37   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany  
Tornado IDS 44+64   AK 51   Schleswig - Jagel, Germany Mazar-e-Sharif Badge
Tornado IDS 45+38   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany  
Tornado IDS 46+20   AK 51   Schleswig - Jagel, Germany Mazar-e-Sharif Badge
Tornado ECR 46+24   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany  
Tornado ECR 46+26   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany  
Tornado ECR 46+30   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany  
Tornado ECR 46+35   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany  
Tornado ECR 46+36   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany  
Tornado ECR 46+48   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany Special Color Tiger
Tornado ECR 46+49   JBG 32   Lechfeld, Germany  
EF-18A+ C15.31 15-18   ALA 15 Zaragoza, Spain Did not Fly
EF-18A+ C.15-39 15-26   ALA 15 Zaragoza, Spain  
EF-18A+ C.15-64 15-34   ALA 15 Zaragoza, Spain  
SU-22UM-3K 508     8th elt Miroslawiec, Poland  
SU-22M-4 8308     8th elt Miroslawiec, Poland Did not Fly, Hawg Special Color
SU-22M-4 8103     8°elt Miroslawiec, Poland  
F-16CJ 054 FMS 93-1054   341 Mira Nea Anghialos, Greece  
F-16CJ 060 FMS 93-1060   341 Mira Nea Anghialos, Greece  
F-16CJ 070 FMS 93-1070   341 Mira Nea Anghialos, Greece  
F-16DJ 084 FMS 93-1084   341 Mira Nea Anghialos, Greece  
F-16CG   93-0011   181 Filo Diyarbakir,Turkey  
F-16DG   93-0013   181 Filo Diyarbakir,Turkey  
F-16CG   93-0004   181 Filo Diyarbakir,Turkey Did not Fly
F-4E 2020   73-1022   111 Filo Eskisehir,Turkey  
F-4E 2020   77-0285   111 Filo Eskisehir,Turkey  
F-4E 2020   73-1021   111 Filo Eskisehir,Turkey Did not Fly
Br.1150 SIGINT   61+06 MFG 3   Nordholz, Germany  
UH-1D   71+32 LTG 61   Landsberg, Germany SAR role
Tornado ECR mm7030 50-04 155th Group ETS 50th Wing Piacenza, Italy  
Tornado ECR mm7059 50-47 155th Group ETS 50th Wing Piacenza, Italy  
Tornado IDS mm7082 50-54 155th Group ETS 50th Wing Piacenza, Italy  
Tornado ECR mm7020 50-41 155th Group ETS 50th Wing Piacenza, Italy Did not Fly
Tornado IDS mm7027   155th Group ETS 50th Wing Piacenza, Italy Special Color Panther

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all the Jabog 32’s staff for organizing this wonderful Spotter Day, and  making this spectacular day possible providing amazing access points. Hope to be back in 2010!!!